Multifunctional rangefinder with at least two modes of operation

ABSTRACT

A multifunctional rangefinder capable of functioning as a rangefinder and at least one additional function. The multifunctional rangefinder comprises a laser transmitter for transmitting a laser pulse and an object lens, located at an inlet of the multifunctional rangefinder, for capturing light reflected by a target and focusing the reflected light at a first digital micro-mirror device. The first digital micro-mirror device has a plurality of micro-mirrors, and each of the plurality of micro-mirrors has an “on” position and an “off” position. A single detector element receives light reflected by the plurality of micro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirror device. An optical condenser arrangement is located between the digital micro-mirror device and the detector element. An analog/digital converter is coupled to the single detector element for processing signals detected by the single detector element. A grating, a second digital micro-mirror device, first and second collimating lens are also provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a multifunctional rangefinderand more specifically, to a multifunctional rangefinder which has afirst mode of operation in which the apparatus operates as aconventional range finder and a second mode of operation which theapparatus assists with identifying a high contrast target(s) within ascene or field of view (FOV) or a spatial scanner with a wavelengthsynthesizer. The multifunctional rangefinder is preferably incorporatedor formed as part of an optical device such as a pair of binoculars, ascope, a vision system, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many laser rangefinders have been designed and produced for bothcommercial and military applications. Military laser rangefinderstypically use a Nd:YAG pulsed laser with a peak power of about 1 millionwatts and can measure range to a target up to more than 5 kilometers.More recent versions use Er:glass lasers which have similar performancebut operate at an eyesafe wavelength of 1.5 microns. These systems meetmilitary requirements in a 2 or 3 pound system, but may be too expensivefor many commercial applications. These systems transmit a single, highpeak power pulse of about 1 million watts and the range is determined bymeasuring the time elapsed between the laser pulse and the receivedlight which is reflected the desired target. The determined range isthen displayed digitally by a viewfinder.

There is now a requirement for lightweight, relative low cost, eyesafelaser rangefinders which will operate and determine a range of a targetof at least 1000 meters. These requirements can be met with laser diodeswhich are low cost and more efficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome theabove mentioned shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the priorart.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctionalrangefinder which has at least two modes of operation and during thefirst mode of operation, the apparatus operates as a conventional rangefinder, while during a second mode of operation, the apparatus canidentify one or more high contrast target(s) within a scene or field ofview (FOV) of the apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to combine a variety ofdifferent components into a single apparatus in order to reduce theassociated manufacturing and production costs.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a multifunctionalrangefinder being able to function as a rangefinder and having at leastone additional function, the multifunctional rangefinder comprising: alaser transmitter for transmitting a laser pulse at least one highcontrast target; an object lens, located at an inlet of themultifunctional rangefinder, for capturing light reflected by thedesired at least one high contrast target and focusing the reflectedlight at a first digital micro-mirror device, and the first digitalmicro-mirror device having a plurality of micro-mirrors, and each of theplurality of micro-mirrors having an on position and an off position; asingle detector element for receiving light reflected by the pluralityof micro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirror device; an opticalcondenser arrangement located between the first digital micro-mirrordevice and the single detector element; andna analog/digital convertercoupled to the single detector element for processing signals detectedby the single detector element.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide method of operation amultifunctional rangefinder so as to be able to function in two modes ofoperation, the method comprising: a transmitting a laser pulse at atarget via a laser transmitter; capturing, via an object lens, at aninlet of the multifunctional rangefinder, light reflected by the desiredtarget and focusing the reflected light at a first digital micro-mirrordevice with the first digital micro-mirror device comprising a pluralityof micro-mirrors, and each of the plurality of micro-mirrors having anon position and an off position; receiving light reflected by theplurality of micro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirror device viaa single detector element; locating an optical condenser arrangementbetween the first digital micro-mirror device and the single detectorelement; and processing signals detected by the single detector elementvia an analog/digital converter coupled to the single detector element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of theinvention and together with the general description of the inventiongiven above and the detailed description of the drawings given below,serve to explain the principles of the invention. The invention will nowbe described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a first embodiment of themultifunctional rangefinder which is able to function both as aconventional rangefinder and a spatial scanner for locating a pulsetrain within a field of view;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a scene being viewed bythe multifunctional rangefinder, according to the present invention,with a high contrast target located within the scene;

FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic illustration showing all of the micro-mirrorsof the first digital micro-mirror device oriented in an “on” positionfor reflecting all of the captured the light toward the single detectorelement;

FIG. 3B is a diagrammatic illustration showing a top horizontal half ofthe micro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirror device oriented inan “on” position for reflecting light;

FIG. 3C is a diagrammatic illustration showing a right vertical side ofthe micro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirror device oriented inan “on” position for reflecting light;

FIG. 3D is a diagrammatic illustration showing first and thirdhorizontal sections of the micro-mirrors of the first digitalmicro-mirror device oriented in an “on” position for reflecting light;

FIG. 3E is a diagrammatic illustration showing second and fourthvertical sections of the micro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirrordevice oriented in an “on” position for reflecting light;

FIG. 3F is a diagrammatic illustration showing first, third, fifth andseventh horizontal sections of the micro-mirrors of the first digitalmicro-mirror device oriented in an “on” position for reflecting light;

FIG. 3G is a diagrammatic illustration showing second, fourth, sixth andeighth vertical sections of the micro-mirrors of the first digitalmicro-mirror device oriented in an “on” position for reflecting light;

FIG. 3H is a diagrammatic illustration showing first, third, fifth,seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth and fifteenth horizontal sectionsof the micro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirror device orientedin an “on” position for reflecting light;

FIG. 3I is a diagrammatic illustration showing second, fourth, sixth,eighth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth and sixteenth vertical sections ofthe first digital micro-mirror device oriented in an “on” position forreflecting light;

FIG. 3J is a diagrammatic illustration showing first, third, fifth,seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fifteenth, seventeenth,nineteenth, twenty first, twenty third, twenty fifth, twenty seventh,twenty ninth, and thirty first horizontal sections of the micro-mirrorsof the first digital micro-mirror device oriented in an “on” positionfor reflecting light;

FIG. 3K is a diagrammatic illustration showing second, fourth, sixth,eighth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth, sixteenth, eighteenth, twentieth,twenty second, twenty fourth, twenty sixth, twenty eighth, thirtieth andthirty second vertical sections of the first digital micro-mirror deviceoriented in an “on” position for reflecting light;

FIG. 3L is a diagrammatic illustration showing first, third, fifth,seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fifteenth, seventeenth,nineteenth, twenty first, twenty third, twenty fifth, twenty seventh,twenty ninth, thirty first, thirty third, thirty fifth, thirty seventh,thirty ninth, forty first, forty third, forty fifth, forty seventh,forty ninth, fifty first, fifty third, fifty fifth, fifty seventh, fiftyninth, sixty first and sixty third horizontal sections of themicro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirror device oriented in an“on” position for reflecting light;

FIG. 3M is a diagrammatic illustration showing second, fourth, sixth,eighth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth, sixteenth, eighteenth, twentieth,twenty second, twenty fourth, twenty sixth, twenty eighth, thirtieth,thirty second, thirty fourth, thirty sixth, thirty eighth, fortieth,forty second, forty fourth, forty sixth, forty eighth, fiftieth, fiftysecond, fifty fourth, fifty sixth, fifty eighth, sixtieth, sixty secondand sixty fourth vertical sections of the first digital micro-mirrordevice oriented in an “on” position for reflecting light;

FIG. 3N is a diagrammatic illustration showing the cross-hairs, of themultifunctional rangefinder, positioned coincident with the detectedhigh contrast target located within the scene being viewed by themultifunctional rangefinder;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a second embodiment of themultifunctional rangefinder with an adjustable limiting aperture toassist with calibrating the cross-hairs of the multifunctionalrangefinder;

FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic illustration showing the location of thereflected laser beam from the high contrast target as detected by thedigital micro-mirror device;

FIG. 4B is a diagrammatic illustration showing of an initial location ofa limiting aperture which is coincident with the current location of thecross hairs of the multifunctional rangefinder;

FIG. 4C is a diagrammatic illustration showing movement of the array ofmicro-mirrors, forming the limiting aperture, upward by a single one rowof micro-mirrors during calibration of the cross hairs of themultifunctional rangefinder;

FIG. 4D is a diagrammatic illustration showing further movement of thearray of micro-mirrors, forming the limiting aperture, upward by anothersingle row of micro-mirrors during calibration of the cross hairs of themultifunctional rangefinder;

FIG. 4E is a diagrammatic illustration showing movement of the array ofmicro-mirrors, forming the limiting aperture, in the right handdirection by a single row of micro-mirrors toward the right duringcalibration of the cross hairs of the multifunctional rangefinder;

FIG. 4F is a diagrammatic illustration showing movement of the array ofmicro-mirrors, forming the limiting aperture, in the left hand directionby a single row of micro-mirrors from the position shown in FIG. 4Cduring calibration of the cross hairs of the multifunctional rangefinderto be coincident with the reflected laser beam from the high contrasttarget:

FIG. 4G is a diagrammatic illustration showing an enlarged array ofmicro-mirrors, forming an initial limiting aperture, for calibrating thecross hairs of the multifunctional rangefinder when substantially nolight was detected by the single detector element;

FIGS. 5A-5H are diagrammatic illustrations showing a second technique orprocess of elimination of the micro-mirrors in order to determine whichmicro-mirror, or relatively small group of micro-mirrors, is receivingand reflecting the light from the high contrast target(s), and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a third embodiment of themultifunctional rangefinder which is able to function both as aconventional rangefinder and a spatial scanner with a wavelengthsynthesizer;

FIG. 6A is a diagrammatic illustration showing how the first digitalmicro-mirror device can be partitioned or sectioned into twenty fiveequal sections; and

FIG. 6B is a diagrammatic illustration showing how the second digitalmicro-mirror device can be partitioned or sectioned into a plurality ofgenerally equal lateral segments.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scaleand that the disclosed embodiments are sometimes illustrateddiagrammatical and in partial views. In certain instances, details whichare not necessary for an understanding of this disclosure or whichrender other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. Itshould be understood, of course, that this disclosure is not limited tothe particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be understood by reference to the followingdetailed description, which should be read in conjunction with theappended drawings. It is to be appreciated that the following detaileddescription of various embodiments is by way of example only and is notmeant to limit, in any way, the scope of the present invention.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a brief description concerning the variouscomponents of the present invention will now be briefly discussed. Ascan be seen in this embodiment, the present invention relates to amultifunctional rangefinder 2. According to this embodiment, themultifunctional rangefinder 2 is equipped, in addition to being able tofunction as a conventional rangefinder, with a spatial scanner forlocating a pulse train within a field of view (FOV).

As shown in this figure, the multifunctional rangefinder 2 includes arangefinder housing H and has a first mode of operation which includes alaser transmitter 4 (for a laser rangefinder LRF) which is designed totransmit a laser pulse 6 at a desired target 8. As the transmitted laserpulse 6 propagates toward the desired target 8 (See FIG. 2), thetransmitted laser pulse 6 will strike and be reflected back by thedesired target 8 toward the multifunctional rangefinder 2. Themultifunctional rangefinder 2 includes an object lens 10 which islocated at an inlet 12 of the multifunctional rangefinder 2 forcapturing the reflected light and imaging the reflected light at a(first) digital micro-mirror device 14, such as one manufactured byTexas Instruments as model no. DLP2010NIR. During the first mode ofoperation, all of micro-mirrors 16 of the digital micro-mirror device 14arranged to reflect all of the imaged light toward a single detectorelement 18, and a further discussion concerning reflection of the imagedlight toward the single detector element 18 will be provided below. Anoptical condenser arrangement 20, e.g., a pair of condensing lensesaccording in this embodiment, is arranged to focus the light reflectedby the digital micro-mirror device 14 at the single detector element 18.

The single detector element 18 then receives and detects the imagedlight, in a conventional manner, and, depending upon the detectedresults of the imaged light, transmits a signals corresponding of thedetected image to an analog/digital converter (A/D) 22, where thesignals are processed, in a conventional manner, to determine thedistance that the desired target 8 is from the multifunctionalrangefinder 2, and that information is then displayed on a screen orsome other display D of the multifunctional rangefinder 2 to theoperator.

The multifunctional rangefinder 2 is equipped, in addition to being ableto function as a conventional rangefinder, with a spatial scanner modefor locating a pulse train within a field of view (FOV). As shown inthis figure, the multifunctional rangefinder 2 also includes a (movable)dispersing lens 24 which has both an active and an inactive position.When the dispersing lens 24 is in an inactive position, themultifunctional rangefinder 2 functions as a conventional rangefinderand the dispersing lens 24 permits the transmitted laser pulse 6 to passthereby without affecting/dispersing the emitted laser pulse 6. When thedispersing lens 24 is in an active position, the transmitted laser pulse6 pass through the dispersing lens 24 which spreads or disperses thetransmitted laser pulse 6 throughout the entire scene 26 (see FIG. 2)being observed by the multifunctional rangefinder 2. Preferably, thedispersing lens 24 spreads and disperses the laser pulse 6 so as to havea field of view of approximately 4 to 6 degrees or so that the entirescene 26 is illuminated by the transmitted laser pulse 6.

As the transmitted laser pulse 6 propagates toward the scene 26, thetransmitted laser pulse 6 will strike and be reflected back by any highcontrast target(s) 8, e.g., an optical system, located within the fieldof view or scene 26, toward the multifunctional rangefinder 2. If thetransmitted laser pulse 6 strikes any non-high contrast target(s),located within the field of view or scene 26, such non-high contrasttarget(s) does not reflect the emitted laser back toward themultifunctional rangefinder 2, i.e., such non-high contrast target(s) donot have the desired (e.g., optical) signature. The object lens 10 ofthe multifunctional rangefinder 2 captures the reflected light andthereafter images the reflected light toward a digital micro-mirrordevice 14. The micro-mirrors 16 of the digital micro-mirror device 14are arranged to reflect all of the imaged light toward the opticalcondenser arrangement 20 and the single detector element 18. The singledetector element 18 then receives and detects the imaged light, in aconventional manner, and, depending upon the detected results of theimaged light, transmits signals corresponding of the detected image toan analog/digital converter A/D 22, where the signals are processed andoutputted, as discussed below in further detail.

During typical operation of the multifunctional rangefinder 2, anoperator will aim the multifunctional rangefinder 2 at a desired scene26 and then activate or depress a button B to initiate transmission of asingle pulsed laser 6, which passes through the dispersing lens 24(which is located in its active position), and is then propagated towardthe desired scene 26 in an attempt to determine whether or not any highcontrast target(s) 8 is located within the scene 26 being viewed. In theevent that the single detector element 18 does not observe any highcontrast target(s) 8 within the scene 26, either nothing or possibly anegative indication is generated by the microprocessor 36 and displayedor indicated by the multifunctional rangefinder 2, e.g., on a viewingscreen or some other display D (not shown), to the operator. Thereafter,the operator can then reposition the multifunctional rangefinder 2toward another desired scene 26 and repeat the above process todetermine whether or not the single detector element 18 observes anyhigh contrast target(s) 8 located within this new scene 26. This processis repeated until the single detector element 18 of the multifunctionalrangefinder 2 detects that there is at least one high contrast target(s)8 which is located within the scene 26 being viewed by themultifunctional rangefinder 2.

If the multifunctional rangefinder 2 determines that at least one highcontrast target(s) 8 is located within the scene 26 being viewed by themultifunctional rangefinder 2 (see FIG. 2 for example), themicroprocessor 36 of the multifunctional rangefinder 2 then causes thelaser transmitter 4 to transmits the initial laser pulse 6 back towardthe same viewed scene 26 and this initial pulse is immediately followedby an additional 12 sequential laser pulses 6′, 6″, 6′″, 6″″, 6′″″,6″″″, 6′″″″, 6′″″″, 6″″″″, 6′″″″″, 6′″″″″″, 6″″″″″″, as shown in FIG. 1.Each one of these 13 sequential laser pulses generally has the samemagnitude and duration, e.g., 5 KHz pulse having a pulse burst durationof 2.6 milliseconds, and each laser pulse 6 is preferably equally spacedapart from one another in time, e.g., spaced apart from one another by0.2-0.3 milliseconds or so. Each one of these 13 sequential laser pulses6, 6′, 6″, 6′″, 6″″, 6′″″, 6″″″, 6′″″″, 6′″″″, 6″″″″, 6′″″″″, 6′″″″″″,6″″″″″″ is sequentially dispersed by the dispersing lens 24 and directedat the scene 26 which contains one or more high contrast target(s) 8therein.

As each one of these 13 individual laser pulses 6 propagates toward andstrikes against the one or more high contrast target(s) 8, each one ofthese 13 individual laser pulses 6 is then sequentially reflected, byeach high contrast target(s) 8 located within the scene 26, back alongan optical axis A of object lens 10 toward the multifunctionalrangefinder 2 as reflected laser pulses 6, 6′, 6″, 6′″, 6″″, 6′″″, 6″″″,6′″″″, 6′″″″, 6″″″″, 6′″″″″, 6′″″″″″, 6″″″″″″. As shown in FIG. 1, thereflected light, from each high contrast target(s) 8, then sequentiallyenters the object lens 10 of the multifunctional rangefinder 2 and eachlaser pulse 6, 6′, 6″, 6′″, 6″″, 6′″″, 6″″″, 6′″″″, 6′″″″, 6″″″″,6′″″″″, 6′″″″″″, 6″″″″″″ is sequentially focused by the object lens 10at the plurality of micro-mirrors 16 of the (first) digital micro-mirrordevice 14. The (first) digital micro-mirror device 14 may, for examplecomprise an array of between 640 to 1920 micro-mirrors arranged along afirst axis and between 480 to 1080 micro-mirrors arranged along a secondaxis extending perpendicular to the first axis. As the first laser pulse6 strikes against the plurality of micro-mirrors 16 of the digitalmicro-mirror device 14, all of the micro-mirrors 16 are arranged in the“on” position, generally shown as reference numeral 16′ in FIG. 3A, sothat all of the light, from the first initial laser pulse 6, isreflected by the micro-mirrors 16 of the first digital micro-mirrordevice 14 toward the condenser arrangement 20 and the single detectorelement 18 for detection and processing, as discussed below in furtherdetail.

Before the second laser pulse 6′ enters and is focused by the objectlens 10 toward the digital micro-mirror device 14, the microprocessor 36changes the positions of the micro-mirrors 16 so that the micro-mirrors16 are now arranged in a second pattern as shown in FIG. 3B. That is, afirst half of the micro-mirrors 16 of the digital micro-mirror device14, i.e., the top horizontal half of the micro-mirrors 16 are allswitched into the “on” position, generally shown as reference numeral16′, while a bottom horizontal half of the micro-mirrors 16 are allswitched into the “off” position, generally shown as reference numeral16″. Accordingly, only the top first half of the micro-mirrors 16, whichare arranged in the “on” position, are able to reflect the second laserpulse 6° toward the single detector element 18 for detection andprocessing while the remaining mirco-mirrors, which are all arranged inthe “off” position, reflect the light toward a light trap 28 and thusare unable to reflect the second laser pulse 6′ toward the condenserarrangement 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection.

Before the third laser pulse 6″ enters the object lens 10 and is focusedtoward the digital micro-mirror device 14, the microprocessor 36 againchanges the positions of the micro-mirrors 16 so that the micro-mirrors16 are now arranged in a third pattern as shown in FIG. 3C. That is, afirst half of the micro-mirrors 16 of the digital micro-mirror device14, i.e., the vertical left half of the micro-mirrors 16 are allswitched into the “off position, generally shown as reference numeral16”, while the vertical right side half of the micro-mirrors 16 are allswitched into the “on” position, generally shown as reference numeral16′. Accordingly, only the right side half of the micro-mirrors 16,which are all arranged in the “on” position, are able to reflect thethird laser pulse 6″ toward the single detector element 18 for detectionand processing while the remaining mirco-mirrors, which are arranged inthe “off position, reflect the light toward a light trap 28 and thus areunable to reflect the third laser pulse 6” toward the condenserarrangement 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection.

Before the fourth laser pulse 6′″ enters and is focused by the objectlens 10 toward the digital micro-mirror device 14, the microprocessor 36again changes the positions of the micro-mirrors 16 so that themicro-mirrors 16 are now arranged in a fourth pattern as shown in FIG.3D. However, according to this pattern, the digital micro-mirror device14 is divided into four equal horizontal sections with the micro-mirrors16 of the first and the third horizontal sections all arranged in the“on” position, generally shown as reference numeral 16′, while thesecond and fourth horizontal sections are all arranged in the “off'position, generally shown as reference numeral 16”. As a result, onlythe micro-mirrors 16 which are arranged in the “on” position, i.e., thefirst and the third horizontal sections, are able to reflect the fourthlaser pulse 6′″ toward the single detector element 18 for detection andprocessing while the remaining mirco-mirrors, which are all arranged inthe “off” position, i.e., the second and the fourth horizontal sections,reflect the light toward the light trap 28 and thus are unable toreflect the fourth laser pulse 6′″ toward the condenser arrangement 20and the single detector element 18 for detection and processing.

Before the fifth laser pulse 6″″ is focused by the object lens 10 towardthe digital micro-mirror device 14, the microprocessor 36 again changesthe positions of the micro-mirrors 16 so that the micro-mirrors 16 arenow arranged in a fifth pattern as shown in FIG. 3E. However, accordingto this pattern, the digital micro-mirror device 14 is divided into fourequal vertical sections with the micro-mirrors 16 of the second and thefourth vertical sections all arranged in the “on” position, generallyshown as reference numeral 16′, while the first and third verticalsections are all arranged in the “off” position, generally shown asreference numeral 16″. As a result, only the first half of themicro-mirrors 16, which are arranged in the “on” position, i.e., thesecond and the fourth vertical sections, are able to reflect the fifthlaser pulse 6″″ toward the single detector element 18 for detection andprocessing while the remaining mirco-mirrors, which are arranged in the“off” position, i.e., the first and the third vertical sections, reflectthe light toward the light trap 28 and thus are unable to reflect thefirst laser pulse 6”” toward the condenser arrangement 20 and the singledetector element 18 for detection and processing.

Before the sixth laser pulse 6′″″ is focused by the object lens 10toward the digital micro-mirror device 14, the microprocessor 36 againchanges the positions of the micro-mirrors 16 so that the micro-mirrors16 are now arranged in a sixth pattern as shown in FIG. 3F. However,according to this pattern, the digital micro-mirror device 14 is dividedinto eight equal horizontal sections with the micro-mirrors 16 of thefirst, third, fifth and seventh horizontal sections all arranged in the“on” position, generally shown as reference numeral 16′, while themicro-mirrors 16 of the second, fourth, sixth and eight horizontalsections are all arranged in the “off” position, generally shown asreference numeral 16″. As a result, only the first half of themicro-mirrors 16 which are arranged in the “on” position, i.e., thefirst, third, fifth and seventh horizontal sections, are able to reflectthe sixth laser pulse 6′″″ toward the single detector element 18 forprocessing while the remaining mirco-mirrors which are arranged in the“off” position, i.e., the second, fourth, sixth and eighth horizontalsections, reflect the light toward the light trap 28 and thus are unableto reflect the sixth laser pulse 6′″″ toward the condenser arrangement20 and the single detector element 18 for detection.

Before the seventh laser pulse 6″″″ is focused by the object lens 10toward the digital micro-mirror device 14, the microprocessor 36 againchanges the positions of the micro-mirrors 16 so that the micro-mirrors16 are now arranged in a seventh pattern as shown in FIG. 3G. However,according to this pattern, the digital micro-mirror device 14 is dividedinto eight equal vertical sections with the micro-mirrors 16 of thesecond, fourth, sixth and eighth vertical sections all arranged in the“on” position, generally shown as reference numeral 16′, while themicro-mirrors 16 of the first, third, sixth and seventh verticalsections are all arranged in the “off” position, generally shown asreference numeral 16″. As a result, only the first half of themicro-mirrors 16 which are arranged in the “on” position, i.e., thesecond, fourth, sixth and eighth vertical sections, are able to reflectthe seventh laser pulse 6″″″ toward the single detector element 18 fordetection and processing while the remaining mirco-mirrors which arearranged in the “off” position, i.e., the first, third, fifth andseventh vertical sections, reflect the light toward the light trap 28and thus are unable to reflect the seventh laser pulse 6″″″ toward thecondenser arrangement 20 and the single detector element 18 fordetection and processing.

Before the eighth laser pulse 6′″″″ enters and is focused by the objectlens 10 toward the digital micro-mirror device 14, the microprocessor 36again changes the positions of the micro-mirrors 16 so that themicro-mirrors 16 are now arranged in an eighth pattern as shown in FIG.3H. However, according to this pattern, the digital micro-mirror device14 is divided into sixteen equal horizontal sections with themicro-mirrors 16 of the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh,thirteenth and fifteenth horizontal sections all arranged in the “on”position, generally shown as reference numeral 16′, while themicro-mirrors 16 of the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth,fourteenth and sixteenth horizontal sections are all arranged in the“off” position, generally shown as reference numeral 16″. As a result,only the first half of the micro-mirrors 16 which are arranged in the“on” position, i.e., the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh,thirteenth and fifteenth horizontal sections are able to reflect theeighth laser pulse 6′″″″ toward the single detector element 18 fordetection and processing while the remaining mirco-mirrors, which arearranged in the “off” position, i.e., the second, fourth, sixth, eighth,tenth, twelfth, fourteenth and sixteenth horizontal sections, reflectthe light toward the light trap 28 and thus are unable to reflect theeighth laser pulse 6′″″″ toward the condenser arrangement 20 and thesingle detector element 18 for detection and processing.

Before the ninth laser pulse 6″″″″ enters and is focused by the objectlens 10 toward the digital micro-mirror device 14, the microprocessor 36again changes the positions of the micro-mirrors 16 so that themicro-mirrors 16 are now arranged in a ninth pattern as shown in FIG.31. However, according to this pattern, the digital micro-mirror device14 is divided into sixteen equal vertical sections with themicro-mirrors 16 of the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth,fourteenth and sixteenth vertical sections all arranged in the “on”position, generally shown as reference numeral 16′, while themicro-mirrors 16 of the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh,thirteenth and fifteenth vertical sections are arranged in the “off”position, generally shown as reference numeral 16″. As a result, onlythe first half of the micro-mirrors 16 which are arranged in the “on”position, i.e., the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth,fourteenth and sixteenth vertical sections, are able to reflect theninth laser pulse 6″″″″ toward the single detector element 18 fordetection and processing while the remaining mirco-mirrors which arearranged in the “off” position, i.e., the first, third, fifth, seventh,ninth, eleventh, thirteenth and fifteenth vertical sections, reflect thelight toward the light trap 28 and thus are unable to reflect the ninthlaser pulse 6″″″″ toward the condenser arrangement 20 and the singledetector element 18 for detection and processing.

Before the tenth laser pulse 6′″″″″ is focused by the object lens 10toward the digital micro-mirror device 14, the positions of themicro-mirrors 16 are again changed so that the micro-mirrors 16 are nowarranged in a tenth pattern as shown in FIG. 3J. According to thispattern, the digital micro-mirror device 14 is divided into thirty twohorizontal sections with the micro-mirrors 16 of the first, third,fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fifteenth, seventeenth,nineteenth, twenty first, twenty third, twenty fifth, twenty seventh,twenty ninth, and thirty first horizontal sections all arranged in the“on” position, generally shown as reference numeral 16′, while thesecond, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth, sixteenth,eighteenth, twentieth, twenty second, twenty fourth, twenty sixth,twenty eighth, thirtieth and thirty second horizontal sections are allarranged in the “off” position, generally shown as reference numeral16″. As a result, only the first half of the micro-mirrors 16 which arearranged in the “on” position, i.e., the first, third, fifth, seventh,ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fifteenth, seventeenth, nineteenth, twentyfirst, twenty third, twenty fifth, twenty seventh, twenty ninth, andthirty first horizontal sections are able to reflect the tenth laserpulse 6′″″″″ toward the single detector element 18 for detection andprocessing while the remaining mirco-mirrors which are arranged in the“off” position, i.e., the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth,fourteenth, sixteenth, eighteenth, twentieth, twenty second, twentyfourth, twenty sixth, twenty eighth, thirtieth and thirty secondhorizontal sections, reflect the light toward the light trap 28 and thusare unable to reflect the tenth laser pulse 6′″″″″ toward the condenserarrangement 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection andprocessing.

Before the eleventh laser pulse 6″″″″″ is focused by the object lens 10toward the digital micro-mirror device 14, the microprocessor 36 againchanges the positions of the micro-mirrors 16 so that the micro-mirrors16 are now arranged in an eleventh pattern as shown in FIG. 3K. However,according to this pattern, the digital micro-mirror device 14 is dividedinto thirty two equal vertical sections with the micro-mirrors 16 of thesecond, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth, sixteenth,eighteenth, twentieth, twenty second, twenty fourth, twenty sixth,twenty eighth, thirtieth and thirty second vertical sections arranged inthe “on” position, generally shown as reference numeral 16′, while thefirst, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fifteenth,seventeenth, nineteenth, twenty first, twenty third, twenty fifth,twenty seventh, twenty ninth, and thirty first vertical sections arearranged in the “off”, position, generally shown as reference numeral16″. As a result, only the first half of the micro-mirrors 16 which arearranged in the “on” position, i.e., the second, fourth, sixth, eighth,tenth, twelfth, fourteenth, sixteenth, eighteenth, twentieth, twentysecond, twenty fourth, twenty sixth, twenty eighth, thirtieth and thirtysecond vertical sections, are able to reflect the eleventh laser pulse6″″″″″ toward the single detector element 18 for detection andprocessing while the remaining micro-mirrors which are arranged in the“off” position, i.e., the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh,thirteenth, fifteenth, seventeenth, nineteenth, twenty first, twentythird, twenty fifth, twenty seventh, twenty ninth, and thirty firstvertical sections and reflect the light toward the light trap 28,reflect the light toward the light trap 28 and thus are unable toreflect the eleventh laser pulse 6″″″″″ toward the condenser arrangement20 and the single detector element 18 for detection and processing.

Before the twelfth laser pulse 6′″″″″″ is focused by the object lens 10toward the digital micro-mirror device 14, the microprocessor 36 againchanges the positions of the micro-mirrors 16 so that the micro-mirrors16 are now arranged in a twelfth pattern as shown in FIG. 3L. However,according to this pattern, the digital micro-mirror device 14 is dividedinto sixty four equal horizontal sections with the micro-mirrors 16 ofthe first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth,fifteenth, seventeenth, nineteenth, twenty first, twenty third, twentyfifth, twenty seventh, twenty ninth, thirty first, thirty third, thirtyfifth, thirty seventh, thirty ninth, forty first, forty third, fortyfifth, forty seventh, forty ninth, fifty first, fifty third, fiftyfifth, fifty seventh, fifty ninth, sixty first and sixty thirdhorizontal sections all arranged in the “on” position, generally shownas reference numeral 16′, while the micro-mirrors 16 of the second,fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth, sixteenth,eighteenth, twentieth, twenty second, twenty fourth, twenty sixth,twenty eighth, thirtieth, thirty second, thirty fourth, thirty sixth,thirty eighth, fortieth, forty second, forty fourth, forty sixth, fortyeighth, fiftieth, fifty second, fifty fourth, fifty sixth, fifty eighth,sixtieth, sixty second and sixty fourth horizontal sections are allarranged in the “off” position, generally shown as reference numeral16″. As a result, only the first half of the micro-mirrors 16 which arearranged in the “on” position, i.e., the first, third, fifth, seventh,ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fifteenth, seventeenth, nineteenth, twentyfirst, twenty third, twenty fifth, twenty seventh, twenty ninth, thirtyfirst, thirty third, thirty fifth, thirty seventh, thirty ninth, fortyfirst, forty third, forty fifth, forty seventh, forty ninth, fiftyfirst, fifty third, fifty fifth, fifty seventh, fifty ninth, sixty firstand sixty third horizontal sections are able to reflect the twelfthlaser pulse 6′″″″″″ toward the single detector element 18 for detectionand processing while the remaining mirco-mirrors which are arranged inthe “off” position, i.e., the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth,twelfth, fourteenth, sixteenth, eighteenth, twentieth, twenty second,twenty fourth, twenty sixth, twenty eighth, thirtieth, thirty second,thirty fourth, thirty sixth, thirty eighth, fortieth, forty second,forty fourth, forty sixth, forty eighth, fiftieth, fifty second, fiftyfourth, fifty sixth, fifty eighth, sixtieth, sixty second and sixtyfourth horizontal sections and reflect the light toward the light trap28, reflect the light toward the light trap 28 and thus are thus unableto reflect the twelfth laser pulse 6′″″″″″ toward the condenserarrangement 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection andprocessing.

Before the thirteenth laser pulse 6″″″″″″ is focused by the object lens10 toward the digital micro-mirror device 14, the microprocessor 36again changes the positions of the micro-mirrors 16 so that themicro-mirrors 16 are now arranged in a thirteenth pattern shown in FIG.3M. According to this pattern, the digital micro-mirror device 14 isdivided into sixty four equal vertical sections with the micro-mirrors16 of the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth,sixteenth, eighteenth, twentieth, twenty second, twenty fourth, twentysixth, twenty eighth, thirtieth, thirty second, thirty fourth, thirtysixth, thirty eighth, fortieth, forty second, forty fourth, forty sixth,forty eighth, fiftieth, fifty second, fifty fourth, fifty sixth, fiftyeighth, sixtieth, sixty second and sixty fourth vertical sections allarranged in the “on” position, generally shown as reference numeral 16′,while the mirco-mirrors of the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth,eleventh, thirteenth, fifteenth, seventeenth, nineteenth, twenty first,twenty third, twenty fifth, twenty seventh, twenty ninth, thirty first,thirty third, thirty fifth, thirty seventh, thirty ninth, forty first,forty third, forty fifth, forty seventh, forty ninth, fifty first, fiftythird, fifty fifth, fifty seventh, fifty ninth, sixty first and sixtythird vertical sections are all arranged in the “off” position,generally shown as reference numeral 16″. As a result, only the firsthalf of the micro-mirrors 16 which are arranged in the “on” position,i.e., the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth,sixteenth, eighteenth, twentieth, twenty second, twenty fourth, twentysixth, twenty eighth, thirtieth, thirty second, thirty fourth, thirtysixth, thirty eighth, fortieth, forty second, forty fourth, forty sixth,forty eighth, fiftieth, fifty second, fifty fourth, fifty sixth, fiftyeighth, sixtieth, sixty second and sixty fourth vertical sections, areable to reflect the thirteenth laser pulse 6″″″″″″ toward the singledetector element 18 for detection and processing while the remainingmicro-mirrors which are arranged in the “off” position, i.e., the first,third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fifteenth,seventeenth, nineteenth, twenty first, twenty third, twenty fifth,twenty seventh, twenty ninth, thirty first, thirty third, thirty fifth,thirty seventh, thirty ninth, forty first, forty third, forty fifth,forty seventh, forty ninth, fifty first, fifty third, fifty fifth, fiftyseventh, fifty ninth, sixty first and sixty third vertical sections,reflect the light toward the light trap 28 and thus are unable toreflect the thirteenth laser pulse 6′″″″″″″ toward the condenserarrangement 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection andprocessing.

The above process is suitable for determining, at a range of onekilometer, the location of a target 8 within one meter of its exactposition. It is to be appreciated that if the high contrast target(s) 8is located closer to the multifunctional rangefinder 2, then themultifunctional rangefinder 2 is able to determine the location of thehigh contrast target(s) 8 with greater precision, i.e., within less than1 meter of its exact position, while if the high contrast target(s) 8 islocated further away from the multifunctional rangefinder 2, then themultifunctional rangefinder 2 is able to determine the location of thehigh contrast target(s) 8 with slightly less precision, i.e., a littlegreater than 1 meter of its exact position.

If additional or finer fidelity is desired or required for themultifunctional rangefinder 2, then two or possibly four or moreadditional sequential laser pulses can be transmitted by the lasertransmitter 4 toward the scene 26 so as to increase the total number ofsequential laser pulses to either 15 or 17, or possibly more sequentiallaser pulses, instead of the 13 sequential laser pulses, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. If twoadditional laser pulses are transmitted to obtain higher fidelity, theneach pair of returned sequential laser pulses, i.e., the fourteen andfifteenth laser pulses, would be respectively transmitted and reflectedback by the high contrast target(s) 8 toward the digital micro-mirrordevice 14 where the micro-mirrors 16 would then be divided, in thisinstance, into 128 alternating vertical “on” and “off” sections, for thefourteenth laser pulse, and 128 alternating “on” and “off” horizontalsections, for the fifteenth laser pulse, while if a sixteenth and aseventeenth laser pulse were transmitted, those laser pulses would berespectively transmitted and reflected back by the high contrasttarget(s) 8 toward the digital micro-mirror device 14 where themicro-mirrors 16 which would be divided into 256 alternating “on” and“off” vertical sections, for the sixteenth laser pulse, and 256alternating “on” and “off” horizontal sections, for the seventeenthlaser pulse, and so fourth.

It is to be appreciated that the above process of transmitting 13 laserpulses toward a desired scene 26 and receiving and processing the 13reflected laser pulses 6, 6′, 6″, 6′″, 6″″, 6′″″, 6″″″, 6′″″″, 6″″″″,6′″″″″, 6′″″″″″, 6′″″″″″, 6″″″″″″ occurs within a matter of a fewmilliseconds or so. As a result, the multifunctional rangefinder 2 isquickly and reliably able to determine the precise location of each highcontrast target(s) 8 that is located within the scene 26 being observed.That is, the multifunctional rangefinder 2 is readily able to determinewhich of a very small number of micro-mirrors 16, e.g., 1-10micro-mirrors or so, is/are receiving the reflective light from the highcontrast target(s) 8. Thereafter, the multifunctional rangefinder 2 canthen locate the cross-hairs 30 of the reticle at that precise locationof the high contrast target(s) 8, as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 3N.Once the cross-hairs 30 of the reticle are coincident with the currentlocation of the high contrast targets) 8, then other appropriate actioncan readily occur, e.g., a projectile can be fired at that high contrasttarget 8, a laser can be pointed at that high contrast target 8 to aidair support in firing a desired projectile at that high contrast target8, etc.

It is to be appreciated that the multifunctional rangefinder 2 is ableto process two or more high contrast targets 8 at the same time andduring each scan of each scene 26. That is, the 13 (or possibly more)sequential laser pulses that are emitted by the laser transmitter 4toward the two or more high contrast targets 8 will each strike and berespectively reflected back by each high contrast target 8 toward themultifunctional rangefinder 2. As a result, the object lens 10 of themultifunctional rangefinder 2 will receive two sequential series ofpulses, i.e,, a set of 13 sequentially reflected laser pulses 6, 6′, 6″,6′″, 6″″, 6′″″, 6″″″, 6′″″″, 6′″″″, 6″″″″, 6′″″″″6′″″″″″, 6″″″″″″ foreach one of the high contrast targets 8 located within the scene 26. Themultifunctional rangefinder 2, is then able to process each one of theset of 13 sequentially reflected laser pulses and determine which one orsmall group of micro-mirrors of the digital micro-mirror device 14 isreceiving the reflected laser beam, i.e., the energy, from the highcontrast target 8 so that the cross-hairs 30 of the reticle can besequentially aligned with each one of the detected high contrast targets8 and appropriate action can then be undertaken with respect to each oneof the detected high contrast targets 8.

As is apparent from the above discussion, the sequence of turning “on”and “off” various sections of the micro-mirrors 16 result in process ofelimination of the micro-mirrors 16 in order to determine whichmicro-mirror, or relatively small group of micro-mirrors 16, isreceiving and reflecting the light from the high contrast target(s) 8.It is to be appreciated that while the above disclosure generallyindicates that the odd numbered sections are in the “on” position whileeven-numbered sections are in the “off” position for the odd numberedpatterns, while the odd numbered sections are in the “off” position andthe even-numbered sections are in the “on” position for each evennumbered pattern, the “on” and “off” positions could be reversed withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Inaddition, the number of micro-mirrors 16 which are included as part ofeach section can vary, depending up on the overall number ofmicro-mirrors forming part of the digital micro-mirror device 14.Lastly, it is to be appreciated that there are a variety of otherarrangements (see FIGS. 5A-5H for example) which could readily result inprocess of elimination to determine which micro-mirror, or group ofmicro-mirrors 16, is receiving the light from the high contrasttarget(s) 8 and all such variations are considered to be within thespirit and scope of the present invention.

That is, as briefly shown in FIGS. 5A-5H, the microprocessor 36 willactivate one or more contiguous horizontal (or vertical) rows of themicro-mirrors 16 to be in all arranged in the “on” position, generallyshown as reference numeral 16′, for reflecting light toward the singledetector element 18 for detection while all of the remainingmicro-mirrors 16 are all arranged in the “off” position, generally shownas reference numeral 16″ in FIG. 5A. The microprocessor 36 will thendetermine if any reflected light is detected by that contiguoushorizontal (or vertical) rows of the micro-mirrors 16. If not, themicroprocessor 36 will then will activate a second one or morecontiguous horizontal (or vertical) rows of the micro-mirrors 16 to bein all arranged in the “on” position, generally shown as referencenumeral 16′ in FIG. 5B, for reflecting light toward the single detectorelement 18 for detection while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 areall arranged in the “off” position, generally shown as reference numeral16″. The microprocessor 36 will then determine if any reflected light isdetected by that contiguous horizontal (or vertical) rows of themicro-mirrors 16. This process is repeated until the single detectorelement 18 eventually detects reflected light from that contiguoushorizontal (or vertical) rows of the micro-mirrors 16, as generallyshown in FIGS. 5C and 5D.

Thereafter, the microprocessor 36 will activate one or more contiguousvertical (or horizontal) rows of the micro-mirrors 16 to be in allarranged in the “on” position, generally shown as reference numeral 16′in FIG. 5E, for reflecting light toward the single detector element 18for detection while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 are allarranged in the “off” position, generally shown as reference numeral16″. The microprocessor 36 will then determine if a greater amount ofthe reflected light is detected by that contiguous horizontal (orvertical) rows of the micro-mirrors 16. If not, the microprocessor 36will then will activate a second one or more contiguous horizontal (orvertical) rows of the micro-mirrors 16 to be in all arranged in the “on”position, generally shown as reference numeral 16′ in FIG. 5F, forreflecting light toward the single detector element 18 for detection todetermine if a greater amount of the reflected light is detected by thesingle detector element 18 while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16are all arranged in the “off” position, generally shown as referencenumeral 16″ in FIG. 5F. This process is repeated until the singledetector element 18 detects a desired amount of the reflected light fromthat contiguous horizontal (or vertical) rows of the micro-mirrors 16 inorder to determine which micro-mirror, or relatively small group ofmicro-mirrors 16, is receiving and reflecting the light from the highcontrast target(s) 8.

Once the above occurs, the multifunctional rangefinder 2 can thenpreform the limited aperture process to calibrate precisely thecross-hairs 30 with the array of 9 (16 or possibly 25) micro-mirrorswhich are receiving the light and thereafter align the cross-hairs 30with that array to calibrate the multifunctional rangefinder 2.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a variation or second embodiment of the presentinvention will now be described. As this embodiment is very similar tothe previously discussed embodiment, only the differences between thisnew embodiment and the previous embodiment will be discussed in detailwhile identical elements will be given identical reference numerals.

According to this embodiment, the multifunctional rangefinder 2 isequipped, in addition to being able to function as a conventionalrangefinder, with a low cost see-spot with a limiter which assists withcalibrating the cross-hairs 30 of the multifunctional rangefinder 2. Themultifunctional rangefinder 2 has a first mode of operation whichincludes a laser transmitter 4 (for a laser rangefinder LRF) which isdesigned to transmit a laser pulse 6 at a desired target 8. As thetransmitted laser pulse 6 propagates toward the desired target 8, thetransmitted laser pulse 6 will strike and be reflected back by thedesired target 8 toward the multifunctional rangefinder 2. Themultifunctional rangefinder 2 includes an object lens 10 which islocated at an inlet of the multifunctional rangefinder 2 for capturingthe reflected light and imaging the reflected light at a (first) digitalmicro-mirror device 14. During the first mode of operation, all ofmicro-mirrors 16 of the digital micro-mirror device 14 arranged toreflect all of the imaged light toward a single detector element 18. Anoptical condenser arrangement 20, e.g., a pair of lenses according inthis embodiment, is arranged to focus the light reflected by the digitalmicro-mirror device 14 at the single detector element 18.

The single detector element 18 then receives and detects the imagedlight, in a conventional manner, and, depending upon the detectedresults of the imaged light, transmits a signals corresponding of thedetected image to an analog/digital converter A/D, where the signals areprocessed, in a conventional manner, to determine the distance of thedesired target 8 from the multifunctional rangefinder 2, and thatinformation is then displayed on a screen or other display 0 of themultifunctional rangefinder 2 to the operator.

The multifunctional rangefinder 2 also has a second mode of operationwhich the multifunctional rangefinder 2 initially functions in a passivemode in which the object lens 10 merely receives the emitted light, froma desired scene, and images the same on the digital micro-mirror device14 and ultimately the single detector element 18. The laser transmitter4 will then transmit a laser pulse 6 at a desired target 8 which iscoincident with the cross-hairs 30 of the multifunctional rangefinder 2.As the transmitted laser pulse 6 propagates toward the desired target 8which is coincident with the cross-hairs 30 of the multifunctionalrangefinder 2, the transmitted laser pulse 6 will strike and bereflected back by the desired target 8 toward the multifunctionalrangefinder 2 and eventually be captured by the object lens 10 of themultifunctional rangefinder 2 and focused at the digital micro-mirrordevice 14, as shown in FIG. 4A.

The microprocessor 36 will activate an adjustable limiting aperture 32,having a desired size aperture 34 (e.g., 3 micro-mirrors by 3micro-mirrors, 4 micro-mirrors by 4 micro-mirrors, 5 micro-mirrors by 5micro-mirrors, etc., depending upon the overall diameter of thetransmitted laser beam 6, which are currently coincident with thecross-hairs 30 of the multifunctional rangefinder 2. The adjustablelimiting aperture 32, with the desired sized aperture 34, isdiagrammatically shown in FIG. 4B. For a relatively smaller sized laserbeam, an array of 9 micro-mirrors is typically required, e.g., theaperture 34 comprises an array of 3×3 micro-mirrors, and these 9 (orpossibly 16, e.g., 4×4 micro-mirrors, or 25, e.g., 5×5 micro-mirrors,for larger diameter laser beams) micro-mirrors 16 are generallysufficient to reflect substantially all, e.g., about 86-100% and morepreferably reflect about 98%, of the reflected laser beam 6 toward thesingle detector element 18 for detection.

If the single detector element 18 detects at least 86% of the reflectedlaser beam, then the cross-hairs 30 of the multifunctional rangefinder 2are deemed by the microprocessor 36 to be sufficiently calibrated withrespect to the multifunctional rangefinder 2, i.e., the cross-hairs 30are properly aligned with the array of 9 micro-mirrors which arereflecting at least 86% of the reflected laser beam, and furthercalibration of the cross-hairs 30, e.g., up or down and/or left or rightmovement of the cross-hairs 30, is generally not required or necessary.However, if the single detector element 18 detects less than 86% of thereflected laser beam 6 or possible none of the reflected laser 6, thencalibration of the cross-hairs 30 is generally required. It is to beappreciated that calibration of the cross-hairs 30 of themultifunctional rangefinder 2 may possibly be required if themultifunctional rangefinder 2 is drop or otherwise is significantlyimpacted or possibly if there has been sufficiently long period of timesince the last time the multifunctional rangefinder 2 was calibrated.

When calibration of the cross-hairs 30 is required, e.g., less than 86%of the reflected laser beam 6 is detected by the single detector element18, the microprocessor 36 will then turn “off” 3 (or possibly 4 or 5micro-mirrors for a larger aperture) micro-mirrors 16 of the array of 9micro-mirrors, e.g., the three micro-mirrors 16 in the bottom (or top)horizontal row of the array and then turn “on” 3 (or possibly 4 or 5 ofthe aperture is larger) new micro-mirrors 16 located in the horizontalrow immediately vertically above (or below) the array of 9micro-mirrors, to thereby form a new array of 9 micro-mirrors 16 (asshown in FIG. 4C) which are now positioned for reflecting the reflectedlaser beam 6 toward the single detector element 18 for detection. Thisprocess also has the effect of adjusting the location of the limitingaperture 32. Thereafter, another laser pulse 6 is propagated by thelaser transmitter 4 toward the calibrating target, e.g., a flat surface,and reflected back by the calibrating target toward the object lens 10of the multifunctional rangefinder 2 for detection. If such adjustmentof the location of the limiting aperture 32 results in the singledetector element 18 now detecting at least 86% of the reflected laserbeam 6, then the cross-hairs 30 are digitally moved by themicroprocessor 36 so as to be coincide with the current location of thelimiting aperture 32, e.g., this new array of 9 micro-mirrors 16, andcalibration process is then terminated.

However, if such adjustment does not result in the single detectorelement 18 detecting at least 86% of the reflected laser beam 6, thecalibration process continues. It is to be appreciated that if theamount of the reflected laser beam 6, detected by the single detectorelement 18 for this new array of 9 micro-mirrors 16, is greater than theprevious amount of light detected by the single detector element 18,then the microprocessor 36 will now turn “off” 3 (or possibly 4 or 5micro-mirrors for a larger aperture) more of the micro-mirrors 16 of thearray of 9 micro-mirrors, e.g., the three micro-mirrors 16 currentlylocated in the bottom (or top) horizontal row of the array and turn “on”3 new micro-mirrors 16 located in the horizontal row immediatelyvertically above (or below) the new array of 9 micro-mirrors, to therebyform a still further new array of 9 micro-mirrors 16 which are nowsuitably positioned to reflect the reflected laser beam 6 toward thesingle detector element 18 for detection, as shown in FIG. 4D.Thereafter, another laser pulse 6 is propagated by the laser transmitter4 toward the calibration target and reflected back toward the objectlens 10 of the multifunctional rangefinder 2 for capture. If suchadjustment of the location of the limiting aperture 32 results in thesingle detector element 18 now detecting at least 86% of the reflectedlaser beam 6, then the cross-hairs 30 are digitally aligned to coincidewith the current location of the limiting aperture 32, e.g., this newarray of 9 micro-mirrors 16, and the calibration process terminates.

Alternatively, if the amount of the reflected laser beam 6 detected bythe single detector element 18 for this new array of 9 micro-mirrors 16is less than the previous amount of reflected light detected by thesingle detector element 18, then the microprocessor 36 returns back tothe immediate preceding array of 9 micro-mirrors 16, as shown in FIG.4C. That is, the microprocessor turns “off” the 3 (or possibly 4 or 5 ofthe aperture is larger) micro-mirrors 16 in the top (or bottom)horizontal row of the new array of 9 micro-mirrors and then turn back“on” 3 (or possibly 4 or 5 of the aperture is larger) micro-mirrors 16of the array of 9 micro-mirrors, e.g., the three micro-mirrors 16located horizontal row immediately vertically below (or above) the arrayof 9 micro-mirrors 16 since this array of 9 micro-mirrors 16 reflected agreater amount of the reflected laser beam 6 toward the single detectorelement 18.

As the single detector element 18 is still not detecting at least 86% ofthe reflected laser beam 6, then the microprocessor 36 will turn “off” 3(or possibly 4 or 5 micro-mirrors if the aperture is larger) more of themicro-mirrors 16 of the array of 9 micro-mirrors, e.g,, the threemicro-mirrors 16 located in the vertical row located immediately alongthe left (or right) hand side of the current array of 9 micro-mirrors 16and turn “on” 3 (or possibly 4 or 5 micro-mirrors if the aperture islarger) new micro-mirrors 16 located in a vertical row immediatelyadjacent to the right (or left) hand side of the array of 9micro-mirrors 16 to thereby form still another array of 9 micro-mirrors16, as shown in FIG. 4E which are now positioned to reflect thereflected laser beam 6 toward the single detector element 18 fordetection. Thereafter, another laser pulse 6 is propagated by the lasertransmitter 4 toward the calibration target and reflected back towardthe object lens 10 of the multifunctional rangefinder 2 for capture. Ifsuch adjustment of the location of the limiting aperture 32 results inthe single detector element 18 now detecting at least 86% of thereflected laser beam 6, then the cross-hairs 30 are aligned so as tocoincide with the current location of the limiting aperture 32, e.g.,this new array of 9 micro-mirrors 16, and the calibration process isterminates. If the amount of the reflected laser beam 6 detected by thesingle detector element 18 for this new array of 9 micro-mirrors 16 isgreater than the previous amount of light detected by the singledetector element 18, then the microprocessor 36 will either continuemoving in the limiting aperture 32, e.g., the array of 9 micro-mirrors16, in the current direction (toward the right) or if the reflectedlaser beam 6 detected by the single detector element 18 for this newarray of 9 micro-mirrors 16 is less than the previous amount of lightdetected by the single detector element 18, then the microprocessor 36will move the limiting aperture 32, e.g., the array of 9 micro-mirrors16, in the opposition direction (toward the left), as shown in FIG. 4F,until the single detector element 18 eventually detects at least 86% ofthe reflected laser beam 6.

This process of turning “on” and “off” various combinations of themicro-mirrors 16 for sequentially forming new arrays of 9 micro-mirrors16 is repeated until the single detector element 18 eventually detectsat least 86% of the reflected laser beam 6. Thereafter, the cross-hairs30 are digitally aligned to coincide with the current location of thelimiting aperture 32, e.g., this last array of 9 micro-mirrors 16 whichreflected least 86% of the reflected laser beam 6 toward the singledetector element 18, and the calibration process is then terminated.

By selectively turning “on” and “off' various rows of typically between3-5 micro-mirrors 16, the location of the aperture 34 of the limitingaperture 32 can be sequentially moved left and/or right and up and/ordown across the digital micro-mirror device 14 until the array of 9 (orpossibly 16 or 25) micro-mirrors 16 reflects at least 86% of the lightcaptured by the object lens 10. It is to be appreciated that there are avariety of the techniques for verifying the alignment of the cross-hairs30 of the multifunctional rangefinder 2 with the array of 9micro-mirrors 16 which are actually receiving the light reflected by thecalibration target toward the multifunctional rangefinder 2 fordetermining whether or not calibration is necessary and such variationsare all considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

In the event that the single detector element 18 does not detect any ofthe reflected laser beam 6, then the size of the aperture 34 of thelimiting aperture 32 can be significantly increased, e.g., the aperture34 may be gradually increased to 6 micro-mirrors by 6 micro-mirrors, 7micro-mirrors by 7 micro-mirrors, 8 micro-mirrors by 8 micro-mirrors, 9micro-mirrors by 9 micro-mirrors, 10 micro-mirrors by 10 micro-mirrorsetc., as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 4G, until the single detectorelement 18 eventually detects some of the reflected light from thecalibration target. Once the reflected laser beam 6 is detected by thesingle detector element 18, then the microprocessor 36 gradually reducesthe size of the aperture 34 of the limiting aperture 32, in a methodicalfashion, e.g., from the left or the right or the top or the bottom, todetermine which array of 9 micro-mirrors 16 (or possibly 16, e.g., 4×4micro-mirrors, or 25, e.g., 5×5 micro-mirrors, for larger diameter laserbeams) is able to reflect at least 86% of the reflected laser beam 6toward the single detector element 18 for detection. After this occurs,the cross-hairs 30 are then digitally aligned to coincide with thecurrent location of the limiting aperture 32, e.g., this new array of 9micro-mirrors 16, and the calibration process is then terminated.

It is to appreciated that the propagation of a laser beam is dependentupon temperature. Accordingly, it may be necessary to periodicallyrecalibrate the multifunctional rangefinder 2, especially when using themultifunctional rangefinder 2 in either an extremely hot conditions oran extremely conditions. The microprocessor 36 preferably has storagefor maintaining a log concerning each calibrate/recalibration of themultifunctional rangefinder 2. The number of times that themultifunctional rangefinder 2 is recalibrate can provide usefulinformation relating to the reliability of the multifunctionalrangefinder 2. Moreover, in the event that the cross-hairs 30 of themultifunctional rangefinder 2 repeatedly require recalibration, thiscould signify that there may be a more serious problem or issue with themultifunctional rangefinder 2 and the multifunctional rangefinder 2should probably be returned for servicing of the multifunctionalrangefinder 2.

Turning now to FIG. 6, a third embodiment of the present invention willnow be described. As this embodiment is very similar to the previouslydiscussed embodiments, only the differences between this new embodimentand the previous embodiments will be discussed in detail while identicalelements will be given identical reference numerals.

According to this embodiment, the multifunctional rangefinder 2 isequipped, in addition to being able to function as a conventionalrangefinder, with a spatial scanner with a wavelength synthesizer whichis useful in determining the composition of one or more gases locatedwithin the field of view. As shown in this figure, the multifunctionalrangefinder 2, similar to the previous embodiments, has a first mode ofoperation which includes a laser transmitter 4 (for a laser rangefinderLRF) which is designed to transmit a laser pulse 6 at a desired target8.

In addition, similar to the previous embodiments, the multifunctionalrangefinder 2 includes an object lens 10 which is located at an inlet 12of the multifunctional rangefinder 2 for capturing the reflected lightand imaging the reflected light at a first digital micro-mirror device14. During the first mode of operation, all of micro-mirrors 16 of thefirst digital micro-mirror device 14 are arranged to reflect all of theimaged light toward a grating 42 which is designed to separate anddisperse the received light into its various wavelengths/colors.

A first collimating lens 40 is located between the first digitalmicro-mirror device 14 and the grating 42 for focusing the light fromthe first digital micro-mirror device 14 at the grating 42. As thefocused light from the first digital micro-mirror device 14 impinges offthe grating 42, the light is refracted by the grating 42 into itsvarious wavelengths/colors. The light refracted by the grating 42 isthen reflected by the grating 42 toward a second digital micro-mirrordevice 46, such as one manufactured by Texas Instruments as model noDLP2010NIR. A second collimating lens 44 is located between the grating42 and the second digital micro-mirror device for focusing the refractedlight from the grating 42 toward and at the second digital micro-mirrordevice 46.

During the first mode of operation, all of micro-mirrors 16 of thesecond digital micro-mirror device 46 are also arranged in the onposition so as to reflect all of the refracted light toward a singledetector element 18, e.g., such as an InGaAs APD, 100 MHZ receiver(InGaAs is for 1 to 1.7 μm SWIR while Silicon is for 0.4 to 1.0 μmVisible/NIR). An optical condenser arrangement 20, e,g., a pair oflenses according in this embodiment, is located between the seconddigital micro-mirror device 46 and the single detector element 18 forfocusing the light reflected by the second digital micro-mirror device46 at the single detector element 18. The single detector element 18then receives and detects the imaged light from the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46, in a conventional manner, and, depending uponthe detected results of the imaged light, transmits signalscorresponding of the detected image to an analog/digital converter A/D,where the signals are processed, in a conventional manner, to determinethe distance of the desired target 8 from the multifunctionalrangefinder 2, and that information is then displayed on a screen orother display D of the multifunctional rangefinder 2 to the operator.

The multifunctional rangefinder 2 is also equipped, in addition to beingable to function as a conventional rangefinder, with a spatial scannerwith a wavelength synthesizer. According to a second mode of operation,the multifunctional rangefinder 2 is pointed by an operator to a desiredscene 26 which is to be observed by the multifunctional rangefinder 2.The object lens 10 of the multifunctional rangefinder 2 captures thereceived light and images the same on the first digital micro-mirrordevice 14. A relative small area, group or section of the micro-mirrors16 of the first digital micro-mirror device 14 are all arranged in the“on” position for reflecting the received light toward the firstcollimating lens 40 and the grating 42, for diffraction in aconventional manner, while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 of thefirst digital micro-mirror device 14 are all arranged in the “off”position and thereby reflect the received light from the object lens 10toward a light trap 28.

As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 6A, the first digital micro-mirrordevice 14 is divided into twenty five equal areas, groups or sections,e.g., an array of five horizontal rows or sections and each horizontalrow comprising five equal sequentially arranged sections ofmicro-mirrors 16 which are operated in a desired sequence. That is, eachone of the micro-mirrors 16 located within the twenty five equal areas,groups or sections are operated in unison with one another, i.e., theyare all turned “on” or all turned “off” together with one another.According to this embodiment, each one of the twenty five equal sectionsis, in turn, sequentially arranged in the “on” position while each oneof the remaining fifteen sections of the first digital micro-mirrordevice 14 are all arranged in the “off” position. That is, when thefirst section (e.g., first row, first section in the upper left handcorner of FIG. 6A) of the first digital micro-mirror device 14 isactivated, each one of the micro-mirrors 16 located within this firstsection is arranged in the “on” position, i.e., all of the micro-mirrors16 in the first section are arranged to reflect light toward the firstcollimating lens 40, the grating 42, the second collimating lens 44, thesecond digital micro-mirror device 46 and the single detector element 18for detection, while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16, in thesecond through twenty five sections, are arranged in the “off positionand reflect light toward the light trap 28.

Once the single detector element 18 detects the necessary informationfrom the first section of the first digital micro-mirror device 14 in aconventional manner, the second section (e.g., the top first row, thesection second from the left in FIG. 6A) of the first digitalmicro-mirror device 14 is then activated so that each one of themicro-mirrors 16 located within this second section is arranged in the“on” position, i.e., all of the micro-mirrors 16 in the second sectionare arranged to reflect light toward the first collimating lens 40 fordetection by the single detector element 18, while all of the remainingmicro-mirrors 16 in the first and the third through twenty fifthsections are arranged in the “off position and reflect light toward thelight trap 28.

Once the single detector element 18 detects the necessary information,as discussed below, the third section (e.g., top first row, the sectionthird from the left in FIG. 6A) of the first digital micro-mirror device14 is then activated so that each one of the micro-mirrors 16 locatedwithin this third section is arranged in the “on” position, i.e., all ofthe micro-mirrors 16 in the third section are arranged to reflect lighttoward the first collimating lens 40 for detection by the singledetector element 18, while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 in thefirst, the second and the fourth through twenty fifth sections arearranged in the “off position and reflect light toward the light trap28.

Once the single detector element 18 detects the necessary information,as discussed below, the fourth section (e.g., the top first row, thesection fourth from the left in FIG. 6) of the first digitalmicro-mirror device 14 is then activated active so that each one of themicro-mirrors 16 located within this fourth section is arranged in the“on” position, i.e., all of the micro-mirrors 16 in the fourth sectionare arranged to reflect light toward the first collimating lens 40 fordetection by the single detector element 18, while all of the remainingmicro-mirrors 16 in the first through the third and the fifth throughthe twenty fifth sections are arranged in the “off” position and reflectlight toward the light trap 28.

Once the single detector element 18 detects the necessary information ina conventional manner, the fifth section (e.g., the top first row, thesection fifth from the left in FIG. 6A) of the first digitalmicro-mirror device 14 is then activated active so that each one of themicro-mirrors 16 located within this fifth section is arranged in the“on” position, i,e all of the micro-mirrors 16 in the fifth section arearranged to reflect light toward the first collimating lens 40 fordetection by the single detector element 18, while all of the remainingmicro-mirrors 16 in the first through the fourth and the sixth throughthe twenty fifth sections are arranged in the “off” position and reflectlight toward the light trap 28.

The above process is then repeated for each of the five sections locatedin the second row form the top (the sixth section through the tenthsection), each of the five sections located in the third row from thetop (the eleventh section through the fifteen section), each of the fivesections located in the fourth row from the top (the sixteenth sectionthrough the twentieth section) and finally for each of the five sectionslocated in the fifth row (the twenty first section through the twentyfifth section) of micro-mirrors 16. It is to appreciated that the firstdigital micro-mirror device may be divided or sectioned into more thantwenty fifth areas, groups or sections, if greater fidelity is desiredor required, or may be divided or sectioned into less than twenty fifthareas, groups or sections, if less fidelity is desired or required,without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 6B, the second digital micro-mirrordevice 46 is divided into a plurality of generally equal lateralsegments, e,g., from between 64 to as many as 1920 equal lateralsegments, depending upon the width of the second digital micro-mirrordevice 46 and the desired fidelity, and each lateral segment extendsfrom a first (bottom) lateral edge of the second digital micro-mirrordevice 46 to an opposed second (top) lateral edge of the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46. Each one of the plurality of lateral segmentshas a width which typically comprises between of 1 to 20 micro-mirrors16 or so, depending upon the size of the second digital micro-mirrordevice 46 and the desired fidelity to be achieved.

According to this embodiment, each one of the plurality of lateralsegments is sequentially arranged in the “on” position while allremaining lateral segments of the plurality of lateral segments of thesecond digital micro-mirror device 46 are all arranged in the “off”position. That is, when the first lateral segment 1 ^(st) (e.g., lateralrow located furthest to the right in FIG. 6B) of the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46 is activated by the microprocessor 36, each oneof the micro-mirrors 16 located within this first lateral segment 1^(st) is arranged in the “on” position, i.e., all of the micro-mirrors16 in the first lateral segment 1 ^(st) are arranged to reflect therefracted light from the grating 42 toward a condenser arrangement 20,e.g., a pair of condensing lens, and the single detector element 18 fordetection, while ail of the remaining micro-mirrors 16, in the remainingplurality of lateral segments, are arranged in the “off” position andreflect light toward the light trap 28,

Once the single detector element 18 detects the necessary informationfrom the first lateral segment 1 ^(st) of the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46 in a conventional manner, then the second lateralsegment 2 ^(nd) (e.g., the lateral segment located second from the rightin FIG. 6B) of the second digital micro-mirror device 46 is thenactivated and each one of the micro-mirrors 16, forming part of thissecond lateral segment 2 ^(nd) , is arranged in the “on” position, i.e.,all of the micro-mirrors 16 in the second lateral segment 2 ^(nd) arearranged to reflect light toward the pair of condensing lens 20 and thesingle detector element 18 for detection, while all of the remainingmicro-mirrors 16 in the first and the third through the last lateralsegments, of the plurality of lateral segments, are arranged in the“off” position and reflect light toward the light trap 28.

Once the single detector element 18 detects the necessary information ina conventional manner, then the third lateral segment 3 ^(rd) (e.g., thelateral segment located third from the right in FIG. 6B) of the seconddigital micro-mirror device 46 is activated so that each one of themicro-mirrors 16, forming part of the third lateral segment 3 ^(rd) , isarranged in the “on” position, i.e., all of the micro-mirrors 16 in thethird lateral segment are arranged to reflect light toward the pair ofcondensing lens 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection,while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 in the first, the second andthe fourth through the last lateral segments, of the plurality oflateral segments, are arranged in the “off” position and reflect lighttoward the light trap 28.

Once the single detector element 18 detects the necessary information,then the fourth lateral segment 4 ^(th) (e,g., the lateral segmentlocated fourth from the right in FIG. 6B) of the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46 is then activated so that each one of themicro-mirrors 16, forming part of the fourth lateral segment 4 ^(th), isarranged in the “on” position, i.e., all of the micro-mirrors 16 in thefourth lateral segment 4 ^(th) are arranged to reflect light toward thepair of condensing lens 20 and the single detector element 18 fordetection, while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 in the first, thesecond, the third, and the fifth through the last lateral segments, ofthe plurality of lateral segments, are arranged in the “off” positionand reflect light toward the light trap 28. The above process is thenrepeated for each one of the plurality of lateral segments (i.e., thefifth lateral segment section through to the last lateral segment) untileach one of the plurality of lateral segments sequentially reflectslight toward the single detector element 18 for detection in aconventional manner.

It is to appreciated that the second digital micro-mirror device 46 maybe divided or sectioned into more lateral segments, if greater fidelityis desired or required, or may be divided or sectioned into less lateralsegments, if less fidelity is desired or required, without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Operation as a Spatial Scanner

According this embodiment, when the multifunctional rangefinder 2functions as a spatial scanner with a wavelength synthesizer, themultifunctional rangefinder 2 operates as follows. The first section ofthe first digital micro-mirror device 14 is first activated so that allof micro-mirrors 16 located within this first section are arranged inthe “on” position for reflecting light toward the first collimating lens40, the grating 42, the second collimating lens 44, the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46 and the single detector element 18 for detection,while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16, in the second throughtwenty fifth sections, are arranged in the “off” position and reflectlight toward the light trap 28.

The diffracted light, from the grating 42, is separate into differentwavelengths with the magenta, red and orange light having the shorterwavelengths, e.g., about 600-800 μm (which typically requires a siliconADP), being reflected toward the right hand side of the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46 while the violet, blue and cyan light having thelonger wavelengths, e.g., about 375-500 μm, being reflected toward theleft hand side of the second digital micro-mirror device 46 and theyellow and green light having a mid wavelength, e.g., about 500-600 μm,being reflected toward the central region of the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46.

As this is occurring, the first lateral segment 1 ^(st) of the seconddigital micro-mirror device 46 is activated so that each one of themicro-mirrors 16 located within this first lateral segment is arrangedin the “on” position and reflects the refracted light, e.g., generallythe magenta light, from the grating 42 toward the pair of condensinglens 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection in aconventional manner, while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16, in theremaining plurality of lateral segments, are arranged in the “offposition and reflect light toward the light trap 28.

Once the single detector element 18 detects the necessary informationfrom the first lateral segment 1 s^(t) of the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46 in a conventional manner, then the second lateralsegment 2 ^(nd) is activated and each one of the micro-mirrors 16,forming part of this second lateral segment 2 ^(nd), is arranged in the“on” position and reflects light toward the pair of condensing lens 20and the single detector element 18 for detection, while all of theremaining micro-mirrors 16 in the first and the third through the lastlateral segments, of the plurality of lateral segments, are arranged inthe “off” position and reflect light toward the light trap 28.

Next, the third lateral segment 3r^(d) is activated so that each one ofthe micro-mirrors 16 of the third lateral segment 3 ^(nd) is arranged inthe “on” position and reflects light toward the pair of condensing lens20 and the single detector element 18 for detection in a conventionalmanner, while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 in the first, thesecond and the fourth through the last lateral segments, of theplurality of lateral segments, are arranged in the “off” position andreflect light toward the light trap 28. The above process is thenrepeated for each one of the plurality of lateral segments (i.e., thefourth lateral segment through the last lateral segment) until each oneof the plurality of lateral segments sequentially reflects light towardthe single detector element 18 for detection in a conventional manner.

After the above cycle of the first through the last lateral segments iscompleted, then the second section of the first digital micro-mirrordevice 14 is activated so that each one of the micro-mirrors 16 formingpart of the second section is arranged in the “on” position forreflecting light from the scene being observed toward the firstcollimating lens 40, the grating 42, the second collimating lens 44, thesecond digital micro-mirror device 46 and the single detector element 18for detection, while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 in the firstand the third through twenty fifth sections are arranged in the “off”position and reflect light toward the light trap 28.

As the second section of the first digital micro-mirror device 14 isreflecting light, the first lateral segment of the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46 is then again activated so that each one of themicro-mirrors 16 located within this first lateral segment 1 ^(st) isarranged in the “on” position and reflects the refracted light, e.g,,generally the magenta light, from the grating 42 toward the pair ofcondensing lens 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection in aconventional manner, while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16, in theremaining plurality of lateral segments, are arranged in the “off”position and reflect light toward the light trap 28.

Once the single detector element 18 detects the necessary informationfrom the first lateral segment 1 ^(st) of the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46 in a conventional manner, then the second lateralsegment 2 ^(nd) is activated and each one of the micro-mirrors 16,forming part of this second lateral segment, is arranged in the “on”position and reflects light toward the pair of condensing lens 20 andthe single detector element 18 for detection, while all of the remainingmicro-mirrors 16 in the first and the third through the last lateralsegments, of the plurality of lateral segments, are arranged in the“off” position and reflect light toward the light trap 28.

Next, the third lateral segment 3 ^(rd) is activated so that each one ofthe micro-mirrors 16 of the third lateral segment 3 ^(rd) is arranged inthe “on” position and reflects light toward the pair of condensing lens20 and the single detector element 18 for detection, while all of theremaining micro-mirrors 16 in the first, the second and the fourththrough the last lateral segments, of the plurality of lateral segments,are arranged in the “off” position and reflect light toward the lighttrap 28. The above process is then repeated for each one of theplurality of lateral segments (i.e., the fourth lateral segment sectionthrough the last lateral segment) until each one of the plurality oflateral segments sequentially reflects light toward the single detectorelement 18 for detection in a conventional manner.

After the above cycle of the first through the last lateral segments iscompleted, the third section of the first digital micro-mirror device 14is then activated so that each one of the micro-mirrors 16 forming partof the third section is arranged in the “on” position for reflectinglight toward the first collimating lens 40, the grating 42, the secondcollimating lens 44, the second digital micro-mirror device 46 and thesingle detector element 18 for detection, while all of the remainingmicro-mirrors 16 in the first, the second and the fourth through twentyfifth sections are arranged in the “off” position and reflect lighttoward the light trap 28.

As the third section of the first digital micro-mirror device 14 isreflecting light, the first lateral segment 1 ^(st) of the seconddigital micro-mirror device 46 is then again activated so that each oneof the micro-mirrors 16 located within this first lateral segment 1^(st) is arranged in the “on” position and reflects the refracted light,e.g., generally the magenta light, from the grating 42 toward the pairof condensing lens 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection,while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16, in the remaining pluralityof lateral segments, are arranged in the “off” position and reflectlight toward the light trap 28.

Once the single detector element 18 detects the necessary informationfrom the first lateral segment 1 ^(st) of the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46 in a conventional manner, then the second lateralsegment 2 ^(nd) is activated and each one of the micro-mirrors 16,forming part of the second lateral segment 2 ^(nd), is arranged in the“on” position and reflects light toward the pair of condensing lens 20and the single detector element 18 for detection, while all of theremaining micro-mirrors 16 in the first and the third through the lastlateral segments, of the plurality of lateral segments, are arranged inthe “off” position and reflect light toward the light trap 28.

Next, the third lateral 3 ^(rd) segment is activated so that each one ofthe micro-mirrors 16 of the third lateral segment 3 ^(rd) is arranged inthe “on” position and reflects light toward the pair of condensing lens20 and the single detector element 18 for detection in a conventionalmanner, while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 in the first, thesecond and the fourth through the last lateral segments, of theplurality of lateral segments, are arranged in the “off” position andreflect light toward the light trap 28. The above process is thenrepeated for each one of the plurality of lateral segments (i.e., thefourth lateral segment section 4 ^(th) through the last lateral segment)until each one of the plurality of lateral segments sequentiallyreflects light toward the single detector element 18 for detection in aconventional manner.

After the above cycle of the first through the last lateral segments iscompleted, the fourth section of the first digital micro-mirror device14 is then activated so that each one of the micro-mirrors 16 formingpart of the fourth section is arranged in the “on” position forreflecting light toward the first collimating lens 40, the grating 42,the second collimating lens 44, the second digital micro-mirror device46 and the single detector element 18 for detection in a conventionalmanner, while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 in the first, thesecond, the third and the fifth through twenty fifth sections arearranged in the “off” position and reflect light toward the light trap28.

As the fourth section of the first digital micro-mirror device 14 isreflecting light, the first lateral segment 1s^(t) of the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46 is then again activated so that each one of themicro-mirrors 16 located within this first lateral segment 1 ^(st) isarranged in the “on” position and reflects the refracted light, e.g,,generally the magenta light, from the grating 42 toward the pair ofcondensing lens 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection,while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16, in the remaining pluralityof lateral segments, are arranged in the “off position and reflect lighttoward the light trap 28.

Once the single detector element 18 detects the necessary informationfrom the first lateral segment of the second digital micro-mirror device46, then the second lateral segment 2 ^(nd) is activated and each one ofthe micro-mirrors 16, forming part of the second lateral segment 2 ^(nd), is arranged in the “on” position and reflects light toward the pair ofcondensing lens 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection,while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 in the first and the thirdthrough the last lateral segments, of the plurality of lateral segments,are arranged in the “off position and reflect light toward the lighttrap 28. Next, the third lateral segment 3 ^(rd) is activated so thateach one of the micro-mirrors 16 of the third lateral segment isarranged in the on” position and reflects light toward the pair ofcondensing lens 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection,while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 in the first, the second andthe fourth through the last lateral segments, of the plurality oflateral segments, are arranged in the “off” position and reflect lighttoward the light trap 28. The above process is then repeated for eachone of the plurality of lateral segments (Le., the fourth lateralsegment section through the last lateral segment) until each one of theplurality of lateral segments sequentially reflects light toward thesingle detector element 18 for detection in a conventional manner.

After the above cycle of the first through the last lateral segments iscompleted, the fifth section of the first digital micro-mirror device 14is then activated so that each one of the micro-mirrors 16 forming partof the fifth section is arranged in the “on” position for reflectinglight toward the first collimating lens 40, the grating 42, the secondcollimating lens 44, the second digital micro-mirror device 46 and thesingle detector element 18 for detection in a conventional manner, whileall of the remaining micro-mirrors 16 in the first, the second, thethird, the fourth and the sixth through twenty fifth sections arearranged in the “off position and reflect light toward the light trap28.

As the fifth section of the first digital micro-mirror device 14 isreflecting light, the first lateral segment 1 ^(st) of the seconddigital micro-mirror device 46 is then again activated so that each oneof the micro-mirrors 16 located within this first lateral segment 1^(st) is arranged in the “on” position and reflects the refracted light,e.g., generally the magenta light, from the grating 42 toward the pairof condensing lens 20 and the single detector element 18 for detection,while all of the remaining micro-mirrors 16, in the remaining pluralityof lateral segments, are arranged in the “off” position and reflectlight toward the light trap 28.

Once the single detector element 18 detects the necessary informationfrom the first lateral segment 1 ^(st) of the second digitalmicro-mirror device 46, then the second lateral segment 2 ^(nd) isactivated and each one of the micro-mirrors 16, forming part of thesecond lateral segment 2 ^(nd), is arranged in the “on” position andreflects light toward the pair of condensing lens 20 and the singledetector element 18 for detection, while all of the remainingmicro-mirrors 16 in the first and the third through the last lateralsegments, of the plurality of lateral segments, are arranged in the“off” position and reflect light toward the light trap 28. Next, thethird lateral segment 3 ^(rd) is activated so that each one of themicro-mirrors 16 of the third lateral segment 3 ^(rd) is arranged in the“on” position and reflects light toward the pair of condensing lens 20and the single detector element 18 for detection, while all of theremaining micro-mirrors 16 in the first, the second and the fourththrough the last lateral segments, of the plurality of lateral segments,are arranged in the “off” position and reflect light toward the lighttrap 28. The above process is then repeated for each one of theplurality of lateral segments (i.e., the fourth lateral segment throughthe last lateral segment) until each one of the plurality of lateralsegments sequentially reflects light toward the single detector element18 for detection in a conventional manner.

The above process is then repeated for each one of the five sectionslocated in the second row (the sixth section through the tenth section)of the first digital micro-mirror device 14, each one of the fivesections located in the third row (the eleventh section through thefifteen section), each one of the five sections located in the fourthrow (the sixteenth section through the twentieth section) and finallyeach one of the five sections located in the fifth row (the twenty firstsection through the twenty fifth section) of micro-mirrors 16.Completion of the above process then finishes one complete scan cycle ofthe multifunctional rangefinder 2 when functioning as a spatial scannerwith a wavelength synthesizer.

The each of the first and the second digital micro-mirror devices 14, 46typically comprises an array of micro-mirrors ranges between 640micro-mirrors by 480 micro-mirrors up to an array of 1920 micro-mirrorsby 1080 micro-mirrors. That is, each digital micro-mirror devicetypically includes between 307,200 and 2,073,600 separate micro-mirrorswhich can be individually actuated.

It is to be appreciated that the multifunctional rangefinder 2 maypossibly be incorporated into a pair of binoculars or some other opticalviewing device to provided added utility to the pair of binoculars orthe other optical viewing device. This, in turn, leads to a more compactpair of binoculars or other optical viewing device and thus addsadditional versatility and cost savings.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedin detail, it is apparent that various modifications and alterations ofthose embodiments will occur to and be readily apparent to those skilledin the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that suchmodifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of thepresent invention, as set forth in the appended claims. Further, theinvention(s) described herein is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or of being carried out in various other related ways.In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyused herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regardedas limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” andvariations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listedthereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items whileonly the terms “consisting of” and “consisting only of” are to beconstrued in a limitative sense.

The foregoing description of the embodiments of the present disclosurehas been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Itis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure tothe precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations arepossible in light of this disclosure. It is intended that the scope ofthe present disclosure be limited not by this detailed description, butrather by the claims appended hereto.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the scope of the disclosure. Although operations are depicted inthe drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood asrequiring that such operations be performed in the particular ordershown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations beperformed, to achieve desirable results.

Wherefore, I claim:
 1. A multifunctional rangefinder being able tofunction as a rangefinder and having at least one additional function,the multifunctional rangefinder comprising: a laser transmitter fortransmitting a laser pulse at a target; an object lens, located at aninlet of the multifunctional rangefinder, for capturing light reflectedby the desired target and focusing the reflected light at a firstdigital micro-mirror device, and the first digital micro-mirror devicehaving a plurality of micro-mirrors, and each of the plurality ofmicro-mirrors having an on position and an off position; a singledetector element for receiving light reflected by the plurality ofmicro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirror device; an opticalcondenser arrangement located between the first digital micro-mirrordevice and the single detector element; and an analog/digital convertercoupled to the single detector element for processing signals detectedby the single detector element.
 2. The multifunctional rangefinderaccording to claim 1, wherein a microprocessor is electrically coupledto the first digital micro-mirror device, the single detector elementand the analog/digital converter to control operation of themultifunctional rangefinder while operating in at least first and secondmodes of operation.
 3. The multifunctional rangefinder according toclaim 1, wherein the object lens, the first digital micro-mirror device,the single detector element, the optical condenser arrangement and theanalog/digital are all accommodated within a rangefinder housing, andthe rangefinder housing includes a button which is provided foractivating operation of the multifunctional rangefinder,
 4. Themultifunctional rangefinder according to claim 1 wherein themultifunctional rangefinder includes a light trap for receiving lightreflected by each one of the plurality of micro-mirrors located in theoff position, while each one of the plurality of micro-mirrors locatedin the on position reflects light toward the single detector element, 5.The multifunctional rangefinder according to claim 1, wherein when themultifunctional rangefinder functions as the rangefinder, all of theplurality of micro-mirrors 16 are arranged in the on position forreflecting the light toward the single detector element for detectionand processing.
 6. The multifunctional rangefinder according to claim 1,wherein the first digital micro-mirror device comprise an array ofbetween 640 micro-mirrors by 480 micro-mirrors to between 1920micro-mirrors by 1080 micro-mirrors.
 7. The multifunctional rangefinderaccording to claim 1, wherein condenser arrangement comprises a pair oflenses,
 8. The multifunctional rangefinder according to claim 1, whereinthe multifunctional rangefinder includes a dispersing lens which has aninactive position in which the dispersing lens does not effecttransmission of the laser pulse from the laser transmitter, and anactive position in which the dispersing lens disperses the transmittedlaser pulse throughout an entire scene being observed by themultifunctional rangefinder.
 9. The multifunctional rangefinderaccording to claim 8, wherein the dispersing lens, in the activeposition, disperses the transmitted laser pulse to have a field of viewto approximately 4 to 6 degrees so that the entire scene is illuminatedby the transmitted laser pulse for observed by the multifunctionalrangefinder.
 10. The multifunctional rangefinder according to claim 8,when the multifunctional rangefinder determines that at least one highcontrast target is present within the scene being viewed by themultifunctional rangefinder, the laser transmitter then transmits aninitial laser pulse followed by an additional 12 laser pulses.
 11. Themultifunctional rangefinder according to claim 10, wherein each one ofthe laser pulses has the substantially a same magnitude and duration andare substantially equally spaced apart from one another in time.
 12. Themultifunctional rangefinder according to claim 2, wherein themicroprocessor changes the positions of the plurality of micro-mirrors,during operation of the multifunctional rangefinder, by a sequence ofturning on and off various sections of the plurality of micro-mirrors soas to result in process of elimination to determine which one or groupof the plurality of micro-mirror is receiving the light from the atleast one high contrast target,
 13. The multifunctional rangefinderaccording to claim 11, wherein microprocessor changes the positions ofthe plurality of micro-mirrors, during operation of the multifunctionalrangefinder, employing at least thirteen different on and off sequencesof the plurality of micro-mirrors to determine which one or group of theplurality of micro-mirror is receiving the light from the at least onehigh contrast target.
 14. The multifunctional rangefinder according toclaim 11, wherein thirteen different on and off sequences of theplurality of micro-mirrors comprises a first sequence in which all ofthe plurality of micro-mirrors are in the on position, a second sequencein which about a first half of the plurality of micro-mirrors are in theon position while about a second half of the plurality of micro-mirrorsare in the off position, a third sequence in which about a first half ofthe plurality of micro-mirrors are in the on position while about asecond half of the plurality of micro-mirrors are in the off position, afourth sequence in which about a first half of the plurality ofmicro-mirrors are in the on position while about a second half of theplurality of micro-mirrors are in the off position, a fifth sequence inwhich about a first half of the plurality of micro-mirrors are in the onposition while about a second half of the plurality of micro-mirrors arein the off position, a sixth sequence in which about a first half of theplurality of micro-mirrors are in the on position while about a secondhalf of the plurality of micro-mirrors are in the off position, aseventh sequence in which about a first half of the plurality ofmicro-mirrors are in the on position while about a second half of theplurality of micro-mirrors are in the off position, an eighth sequencein which about a first half of the plurality of micro-mirrors are in theon position while about a second half of the plurality of micro-mirrorsare in the off position, a ninth sequence in which about a first half ofthe plurality of micro-mirrors are in the on position while about asecond half of the plurality of micro-mirrors are in the off position, atenth sequence in which about a first half of the plurality ofmicro-mirrors are in the on position while about a second half of theplurality of micro-mirrors are in the off position, an eleventh sequencein which about a first half of the plurality of micro-mirrors are in theon position while about a second half of the plurality of micro-mirrorsare in the off position, a twelfth sequence in which about a first halfof the plurality of micro-mirrors are in the on position while about asecond half of the plurality of micro-mirrors are in the off position,and a thirteenth sequence in which about a first half of the pluralityof micro-mirrors are in the on position while about a second half of theplurality of micro-mirrors are in the off position.
 15. Themultifunctional rangefinder according to claim 2, wherein themultifunctional rangefinder is able to process two or more high contrasttargets at the same time and during the same scan of the scene.
 16. Themultifunctional rangefinder according to claim 2, wherein themultifunctional rangefinder further includes a grating which is designedto separate and disperse the received light into its variouswavelengths, a first collimating lens is located between the firstdigital micro-mirror device and the grating for focusing light, a seconddigital micro-mirror device, and a second collimating lens is locatedbetween the grating and the second digital micro-mirror device forfocusing refracted light, from the grating toward and the second digitalmicro-mirror device, and the second digital micro-mirror device has aplurality of micro-mirrors, and each of the plurality of micro-mirrorshas an on position and an off position, and the second digitalmicro-mirror device reflects light toward the single detector elementwith the optical condenser arrangement located between the seconddigital micro-mirror device and the single detector element.
 17. Themultifunctional rangefinder according to claim 16, wherein amicroprocessor is electrically coupled to the first digital micro-mirrordevice, the second digital micro-mirror device, the single detectorelement and the analog/digital converter for controlling operation ofthe multifunctional rangefinder while operating in at least first andsecond modes of operation.
 18. The multifunctional rangefinder accordingto claim 17, wherein during the second mode of operation, themultifunctional rangefinder is passive and the object lens captureslight from a scene and images the captured light on the first digitalmicro-mirror device, and a first section of the plurality ofmicro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirror device are in the onposition for reflecting the received light toward grating fordiffraction, while the remaining plurality of micro-mirrors are arrangedin the off position, and the second digital micro-mirror device isoperated to sequentially reflect only a desired range of the diffractedlight toward the single detector element for detection while prevent aremaining portion of the diffracted light from being reflected towardthe single detector element.
 19. The multifunctional rangefinderaccording to claim 18, wherein the microprocessor controls operation ofthe plurality of micro-mirrors of the second digital micro-mirror deviceto sequentially reflect each desired range of the diffracted lighttoward the single detector element for detection, and, once this iscomplete, the microprocessor controls another section of the pluralityof micro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirror device to reflect thereceived light toward grating for diffraction, while the remainingplurality of micro-mirrors are arranged in the off position, and themicroprocessor controls the second digital micro-mirror device tosequentially reflect only a desired range of the diffracted light towardthe single detector element for detection while prevent a remainingportion of the diffracted light from being reflected toward the singledetector element.
 20. The multifunctional rangefinder according to claim2, wherein the microprocessor controls operation of the plurality ofmicro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirror device to form anadjustable limiting aperture for verifying whether on not an array of atleast 9 micro-mirrors is coincident with cross-hairs of themultifunctional rangefinder and upon determining which array of at least9 micro-mirrors is receiving the reflected laser pulse, themicroprocessor adjusts the cross-hairs of the multifunctionalrangefinder to be coincident with the array of at least 9 micro-mirrorsreceiving the reflected laser pulse,.